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Game No. 4: North Carolina 35, ECU 20

 

Game Slants
Saturday, October 1, 2011

By Denny O'Brien

Schedule taking its toll

By Denny O'Brien
©2011 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.

GREENVILLE — To some degree, East Carolina’s struggles to open the 2011 season should have been expected. The opening schedule provided a pretty good clue to that possibility.

Three of the Pirates’ first four opponents came from BCS automatic qualifier conferences and figure to finish near the top of their leagues. It was a schedule demanding enough to make any member of the Top 15 flinch.

So it should come as no surprise that, after a 35-20 home loss to North Carolina, the Pirates have stumbled to a 1-3 start. The manner in which ECU has struggled is another matter altogether.

Against the Heels, much like the loss against South Carolina and the win over Alabama-Birmingham, the Pirates’ generosity was their ultimate undoing. Four giveaways helped North Carolina build an early 28-3 lead from which the Pirates never recovered.

Though ECU obviously was talented enough to overcome its seven turnovers against UAB, it simply lacked the firepower to compensate for the four it committed Saturday. That’s typically the case when facing a roster full of blue-chippers.

“We’ve faced three teams out of four that have a chance to win their (AQ conference) championship,” Pirates coach Ruffin McNeill said after the game. “We weren’t picked to win ours. It’s the toughest schedule in the country. Bar none, second to none. We know that. We knew the challenge coming into it. Those three teams there are going to contend for championships in their league.

"We have to stay healthy because this type of schedule can bang you up and beat you up.”

If there is any consolation this season, it’s that the Pirates at least have remained relatively healthy. Any toll from the ambitious non-conference schedule has not been represented on the injury report.

That’s the good news. The bad news is the unfortunate reality that East Carolina is in a 1-3 hole with several challenges still ahead, leaving little room for error with regard to the postseason hopes.

“That was a team that was as talented as South Carolina in the SEC and as talented as Virginia Tech,” McNeill said. “(North Carolina) is a powerful team. They have top-flight talent. They have as strong a team as South Carolina or Virginia Tech. They have very powerful lines.”

The Heels’ powerful offensive line pushed East Carolina’s defensive front around for much of the night. It paved the way for 220 rushing yards, 146 of which were delivered by Gio Bernard.

The North Carolina defensive front wasn’t too shabby, either, limiting the Pirates to only 73 rushing yards on 21 carries. Granted, some of that can be attributed to the fact that ECU was in catch-up mode much of the night.

Consider that a fairly routine consequence with a schedule as aggressive as ECU’s.

To its credit, the East Carolina scheduling philosophy has delivered on most of its objectives. It has generated widespread interest in the program, dramatically increased season ticket sales, and provided numerous national television appearances.

It has enabled athletics director Terry Holland to expand Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium as a response to the growing interest. Admittedly, that wouldn’t have occurred if he padded the slate with powder puffs.

But you also can’t deny that ECU has suffered in the loss column. Since the Pirates’ memorable blowout win over West Virginia in 2008, they are 1-13 against BCS AQ competition.

That one victory came last season in overtime against N.C. State at home.

At this stage, there is no denying that turnovers — not the schedule — are the primary concern for the Pirates. If ECU continues fumbling at its current pace, it truthfully won’t matter who it is facing.

That, more than anything within the East Carolina football program, must be addressed.

Still, you can’t help but think that the schedule could use a little tinkering. There is certainly nothing wrong with mixing a few cupcakes in with the big boys.

It’s pretty clear that the Pirates could benefit from a competitive breather.

Send a message to Denny O'Brien.

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10/02/2011 05:58:42 AM

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